About YOGA

Origin of Yoga:

The word yoga was first mentioned in the oldest text, The Rig Veda. The yoga comes from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj' which means "Joining" "Union".

In Spiritual sense, Yoga means Union of mind with divine.

Maharishi Patanjali says Yoga is Concentration.

Maharishi Vyasa says yoga is Samadhi.

Bhagwad Gita says Yoga is Excellence of work.

Classical Period:

The period 500B.C.-800A.D. is classical period of Yoga, a very prominent period of the history.

Maharishi Patanjali around 250B.C. brought order into yoga techniques and complied the Yoga Sutra.which is considered the basics of Yoga. In Yoga Sutra everything related to men's evolution is written. It is like grammar book on spirituality.

Post Classical Period:

The post classical period is 800A.D.- 1700A.D. wherein teching of some ledengery Acharays were famous.In this period,Surdasa,Tulsidasa,Mirabai and Purandardasa also contributed in teaching.In the same era,Hatha Yoga practice popularised by great Naths Yogis Matsyendaranath, Gorkshnath,Cauranginath,Gheranda,Swatmaram Suri.

Additionally, we have Yogi Yajnavalkya and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Some Upnishads were written very late and some were very beginning  of this period.

History of Yoga:

Shiva is considered as the first yogi or Adiyogi. Thousand years ago, on the banks of lake kantisarovar in the Himalayas,Adiyogi poured his knowledge into the 'Seven sages'(saptarishis). The existence  of yoga were also found in folk tradition, Mohanjodaro(indus valley civilization),vedic and upanishads period.

Buddhist, jain tradition, darshanas, epics of mahabharata, ramayana, puranas, vaishnavas were also have yoga existence.

Aims/objectives about Yoga:

The main aim of yoga philosophy is to achieve self realization through stoppage of the fluctuation of mind.

The objective is to achieve the above aim, one develops better human relations which are bound to bring about peace.

The objective  sutra seeks only to establish it  own tenets.

Sutras are profound in its wisdom.

In the journey of self realization,one has to inculcate the highest human virtue like amity, compassion,friendliness,honesty ,purity,contentment, self study, acceptance and spiritual faith.

(There are two more article related about Yoga)

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